Top 8 Natural Monuments in Polog Region

Beautiful small stone church dedicated to Saint Petka, known for her healing powers with blessed water from sacred spring. There is 2km from the main road with very steep incline. Take your time and enjoy scenery. Enjoy and respect

This is only one of many live water springs on Šar mountain. You wont need to carry so much as you will find plenty along the way. Interesting facts is that sheep learned how to drink from the pipe so you will be sharing it with them. Enjoy and respect

The two countries share this peak. That's why you can climb it from both sides. In my case, I chose the route in Albania. I think the surroundings are very beautiful and you have a great view from the top when the weather is good.

The border from Kosovo to Macedonia is only open for locals (people from Kosovo and Macedonia). If you're foreign, even as an EU citizen there is no way border police will let you pass. So consider this route CLOSED if you come from Kosovo.

In the lower, 44 km long section of its course, the Radika continues to flow south, having carved a long and 1 km deep gorge between the Korab and Dešat mountains to the west and Bistra (to the east). There are many interesting places along the Radika valley, including the villages of Velebrdo, Rostuša, Janče, Prisojnica and Skudrinje, the Monastery of St. Jovan Bigorski, the Kosovratska Banja spa (with sulphurous water up to 49 °C) and the unique Alčija cave, formed from alabaster. Alabaster is abundant in the area and is mined and processed in the town of Debar for industrial and commercial purposes. After the gorge, the Radika receives its largest tributary, the Valovica river from the right, and flows along the northern slopes of the Stogovo mountain. After the villages of Dolno Kosovrasti, Dolno Melničani, Gorenci and Rajčica, the Radika flows into the Black Drin, just south of Debar. The Black Drin is one of the tributaries of the Drin river, while the next is the White Drin, which originates from Kosova. In fact, the lowest section of the river is flooded by the artificial lake Debar on the Black Drin, forming one of the lake's bays. From the pictures you can see how powerfully the Radika digs through the rocks, it's a must-see 👍

It's not necessarily a gravel track, but it's worth reaching the summit because the three-country corner awaits there 🚴🐯

Mavrovo National Park (Macedonian: Национален Парк Маврово Nacionalen Park Mavrovo, Albanian: Parku Kombëtar i Mavrovës) is the largest of the four national parks in North Macedonia. It was founded in 1949 and has an area of 731 km². It is located in the northwestern part of North Macedonia, southwest of the city of Gostivar. Originally the national park had an area of 118 km². In 1952 it was expanded, at the same time Lake Mavrovo was created - a 13.7 km² reservoir located at 1233 m above sea level - which supplies the surrounding area with electricity.[1] The village of Mavrovi Anovi, which was flooded by the lake, was rebuilt north of the lake. The highest point in the national park is Korab Peak. The national park is used by tourists for hiking, cycling and skiing; there are hotels, holiday homes and ski lifts. Hiking trails are only sporadically marked. Worth seeing are the Duf waterfall near Bituše, the village of Galičnik and the Sveti Jovan Bigorski monastery. Large parts of the national park consist of grassland, as large areas of forest were cleared up until the early 1950s to facilitate the intensive sheep farming of the time. Norway spruce and beech grow in particular at higher altitudes, while various types of oak can be found at lower altitudes. Animal species found in the national park include the western rock vole, the Martino snow vole, the western blind vole, the Balkan mole, several species of shrews and bats, as well as otters, wild cats, lynxes, wolves and brown bears, as well as numerous rare amphibians, reptiles and insects. There were plans for two hydroelectric power plants in the national park that would have threatened the survival of the Balkan lynx. The park is home to the most significant population of the critically endangered lynx species. A campaign by the environmental organization Eko-svest led by Ana Čolović Lešoska resulted in the project's building permit being revoked in 2016.[2][3] A part of the national park, namely the valley of the river Dlaboka Reka ("Deep River") flowing through the national park, was included in the transnational World Heritage Site "Ancient Beech Forests and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe" in 2021.[4]

The creek runs through the whole valley. There are many great spots. I found this one particular good. There is a small pool where you can swim in the cold water. The whole scenery is marvelous.